Discover Why Italy is Travel + Leisure’s Top Destination of the Year

A new Italian renaissance is waiting in the wings, and there’s no better time to start planning your next visit.

All you have to do, really, is close your eyes, and you’re there.

Your specific destination might be the Val d’Orcia, where cypresses march in rows across low, undulating hills. It could also be the vertiginous cliffs of the Amalfi Coast, where pastel-hued villages cascade down to pebble beaches and secret coves. Or perhaps it’s the plains of Puglia, characterized by their thousand-year-old olive trees and frothy Baroque cathedrals.

Italy is a land composed of signifiers that the whole world recognizes and loves. Perhaps more than any other European country, it enriches our vision of a perfect holiday; consider the traveler whose mind is forever marked by those iconic cypress trees, yet who has never stepped foot in Tuscany.

As I write this, Italy, similar to much of Europe, is still off-limits to American visitors. However, whether you’re a newcomer or have traveled the country from Liguria to Lecce, now is an excellent time to dive into that planning-and-dreaming sweet spot to which Italy is so well suited.

Many of us have already found ourselves drawn to Italy by a sense of compassion and fellow feeling. In the spring of this year, we observed as Italy became one of the first countries to be devastated by COVID-19. (In the northern province of Lombardy alone, almost 17,000 people died in the first three months.) Meanwhile, while other European countries had to impose and reimpose quarantines, Italy managed to take tentative first steps back to normalcy, reopening its borders to the U.K. and much of Europe.

What awaits travelers in 2021? Everything that has always made Italy alluring: the exquisite food, world-class wine, rich artisan traditions, renowned fashion (oh, the fashion), cities that are layered with history; the beautiful sea, and of course that deeply desirable state known as dolce far niente—all of it still exists to be savored. Nevertheless, there is something new in the air; there seems to be a renewed appreciation among Italians for the richness and breadth of their country’s heritage.

Italy’s New Coast-to-Coast Hiking Trail Is Filled With Mountains and Beaches to Explore

When we can travel again, Italy will be eagerly awaiting our return. That familiar adage about hospitality being inherent in the Italian way of life rings true. Consequently, the Italian tourism ecosystem is vast; it encompasses not only hotels, airports, and cruise lines but extends deep into the country’s socioeconomic fabric. The artisanal businesses, which form the backbone of thoughtful travel experiences—including boutique winemakers, olive farmers, innkeepers, craftspeople, boat captains, drivers, and, of course, guides—have profoundly suffered this year. Even some of the most revered cultural institutions and sites around the world, which have greatly depended on tourism income, have faced significant challenges.

The coming year may very well see these businesses flourish once again. Therefore, we can ensure this by actively participating in that renaissance. As you ponder your future travels, consider the rich experiences that symbolize Italy for us—everything from enjoying an almond granita by the shore in Sicily to the illuminated façade of San Miniato al Monte in Florence. The future of Italy’s charm is in our hands.